Plow mulcher

ABSTRACT

A plow having a pivotally mounted plow mulcher connected to the plow frame through hinged arms. A plow mulcher frame is carried on the outer ends of the hinged arm and may be moved between raised and lowered positions by operation of an overcenter spring arrangement, hydraulic cylinder and cable arrangement, or a hydraulic cylinder extending between the plow frame and the outer hinged arm portion. A cushioning spring may be provided for the hydraulic cylinder to yieldably permit raising of the mulcher frame without contracting the hydraulic cylinder. The mulcher and the plow may be operated from a common hydraulic power source through separate hydraulic cylinders connected together such that the mulcher is raised and lowered first due to its lower power requirements. Unlimited adjustability is provided in the mulcher structure to position the mulcher as desired relative to the plow.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Arnold F. Kopaska Guthrie Center,Iowa 50115 [21] Appl. No. 777,293

[22] Filed Nov. 20, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 [54] PLOW MULCHER2,918,979 12/1959 Graham 172/482X 2,934,155 4/1960 McMaster. 172/643X2,960,169 11/1960 Collins 172/744x 3,021,908 2/1962 Dlugosch 172/4663,100,018 8/1963 Sokolowski... 172/705X 3,210,869 10/1965 Hfiln 37/8FOREIGN PATIENTS 478,621 2/1953 ltaly 172/202 Primary Examiner-Robert E.Bagwill Assistant Examiner-Alan E. Kopecki Attorney-Zarley, McKee andThomte ABSTRACT: A plow having a pivotally mounted plow mulcherconnected to the plow frame through hinged arms. A

plow mulcher frame is carried on the outer ends of the hinged arm andmay be moved between raised and lowered positions by operation of anovercenter spring arrangement, hydraulic cylinder and cable arrangement,or a hydraulic cylinder extending between the plow frame and the outerhinged arm portion. A cushioning spring may be provided for thehydraulic cylinder to yieldably permit raising of the mulcher framewithout contracting the hydraulic cylinder. The mulcher and the plow maybe operated from a common hydraulic power source through separatehydraulic cylinders connected together such that the mulcher is raisedand lowered first due to its lower power requirements. Unlimitedadjustability is provided in the mulcher structure to position themulcher as desired relative to the plow.

PATENTEU MAR 2 l9?! SHEET 2 OF 3 RES.

and the outer end portions of the mulcher arms and the connectionstherebetween are such that the mulcher frame may be moved along thelength of the mulcher arms and perpendicularly towards and away from themulcher arms. The mulcher frame may be pivoted relative to thehorizontal at its connections with the posts connecting it to themulcher arms. The teeth units I mounted on the mulcher frame may beslidably adjustable along the length thereof and the transverse memberson which the-teeth are mounted may be slidably positioned transverselyof the teeth units andthe mulcher frame. The teeth elements arerotatably mounted on the transversely extending shafts of the teethunits.

The mulcher frame may be lowered and raised manually with assistance ofan over-the-center spring operative to hold the frame in a downwardposition or a raised position. Positive lock means is also provided tohold the mulcher unit in a raised or lowered position; Alternatively, ahydraulic cylinder and cable arrangement may be employed for raising andlowering the mulcher unit. Also a hydraulic cylinder may be connectedbetween the outer arm portion and the plow-frame for raising andlowering the mulcher unit, the hydraulic cylinder being yieldable inresponse to the mulcher hitting an obstruction by virtue of a springmeans being positioned between the cylinder and the plow.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to thefollowing description when taken into consideration with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tractor pulling a moldboardtype plowhaving'a mulcher unit mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the mulcher unit in a raised positionwith the teeth units pivoted forwardly thereby minimizing the width ofthe plow and mulcher unit;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan'view of the plow and mulcherunit;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to FIG. 3 but showing analternate lifting arrangement for the mulcher unit;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the hydraulic cylinder and cablepower means;

FIG. 9 is a schematic of the hydraulic circuitry for the plow andmulcher hydraulic cylinders;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of a third embodiment of the liftmeans for the mulcher unit; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

The plow mulcher unit of this invention is referred to generally in FIG.1 by the reference numeral 10 and is shown mounted on a moldboard-typeplow 12 having an elongated frame 14 extending the length thereof. Theplow is being as seen in FIG. 3. As also seen inFIG. 3, conventionalplow frame 14 is disposed at an angle relative to the line of travel ofthe plow 12. The arms 18 and 20 are substantially perpendicular to boththe plow frame 12 and the mulcher beam 34. As further seen in FIG. 3,the longitudinal axes of sleeves 76 of ground engaging units 70 (to bediscussed hereafter) are substantially perpendicular to the line oftravel of the plow unit 12, which is on a horizontal line to the rightas seen in this FIG.

The inner arm portion 26 is rigidly secured to the plow frame by a. pairof clamping plates 36 and 38 interconnected by bolts 40. The inner armportion 26 includes a pair of spaced-apart flanges 42 on its outer endbetween which the inner end of the outer arm portion 28 is received andpivotally interconnected by a pin 44. A downwardly extending flange 4.6is formed on the inner end of the outer arm portion 28 and carries anadjustable stop bolt 48 for engagement with the outer end of the innerarm portion 26 as seen in FIG. 4. The stop bolt 48 includes a nut 50welded to the flange 46 and a bolt 52 having a head 54 for engagementwith a flange 56 extending between the clevis plates 42 and below thepivot pin hinged portions 22, 24 and 26, 28. The outer arm portions 24and 28 are connected through posts 30 and 32 to an elongated mulcherbeam or frame member 34 which is disposed generally in parallelrelationship to the plow frame member 14 The outer arm portion 28 isrectangular in cross section and carries a slidable sleeve 58 adjustablyheld in position by setscrewlike lock bolts 60. A perpendicularlyarranged sleeve 62 is welded to the side of the sleeve 58 and slidablyreceives the posts 30 and 32. Adjustable set lock bolts 64 are providedfor locking the posts 30 and 32 in place. The lower end of the posts 30and 32 include squeeze-type clamping plates 66 which embrace the mulcherframe 34. It is noted that the height of the opening through which theframe 34 extends between the plates 66 is SUffiClfil'ltiO permitvertical adjustment as seen in FIG. 4. A pair of bolts 68 provide thelocking action required for the clamping plates 66.

A series of teeth units 70. are carried on the frame 34 and each includea slidable sleeve 72 adjustably locked in place by setlock bolts 74.Each sleeve 72 includes a pair of transversely extending sleeves 76welded on the lower side thereof and holding a shaft 77 on which springteeth 78 are mounted for working the ground. The spring teeth 78 arefreely pivotal on the shafts 76 until they engage stop pins 80. Setbolts 81 permit selective rotation of the shafts 76 in the sleeves 76.

A hydraulic cylinder unit 82 is provided for raising and lowering themulcher unit between the solid and dash line positions of FIG. 4. Anupstanding ear 84 is formed on the outer arm portion 28 for engagementwith the outer end of the piston rod 86 while the cylinder end 88 of thecylinder unit 82 is connected to a slidable bracket 90 mounted on asupport plate 92 bolted to the plow frame 14 by a bolt 94. As seen inFIG. 5 inwardly extending guide flanges 96 are provided for holding thebracket 90 in a track. The support plate 92 has an upstanding stopmember 98 opposite the bracket 90. A bolt 100 extends through the stopplate 98 and through a coil spring 102 positioned between the bracket 90and the stop plate 98 and is secured to the bracket 90. An adjustablenut 104 is provided on the bolt adjacent the bracket 90 to vary thepressure on the spring 102. Additional adjustmentmay be obtained byadjusting the nut 106 on the end of the bolt 100 adjacent the stop plate98.

In FIG. 9 the hydraulic circuitry for operating the cylinder unit 82 isillustrated. The power supply of the tractor 16 is em ployed to drive ahydraulic pump 108 having a line 110 extending through a relief valve112 for communication with the inlet line 114 of the plow lift cylinder116 and the inlet line 118 of the mulcher lift cylinder 82. The outletline 120 of the plow cylinder and the outlet line 122 of the mulchercylinder 82 are in communication with a reservoir .124 which in turnfeeds the pump 108 through a line 126.

The operation of the mulcher unit of FIGS. 1-5 is simple and quick. Theunit is easily clamped to a conventional plow frame 14 through use ofthe clamping plates 36 and 38 on the ends of the arms 18 and 20. Themulcher frame 34 may be positioned in an infinite number of positionsthrough use of the adjustment features provided which includelongitudinal movement along the outer arm portion 28 by sliding thesleeve 58, vertical adjustment of the post 32 by sliding the post 32 inthe sleeve 62, and longitudinal adjustment of the teeth units 70 alongthe mulcher frame 34 by sliding the sleeves 72 therealong. Furthermore,the teeth shafts 77 may be rotated within the sleeves 76 as necessarywhile the teeth 78 are free to pivot against stop pins 80 on the shaft77. The cylinder unit 82 is quickly attached and detached through pins128 and 130. The spring support plate is easily connected to the plowframe '14 by the bolt 94 or other appropriate connecting means. Whileseparate power supplies may be used to operate the plow-liftingmechanism and the cylinder 82 for the mulcher a common pump 108 is shownin FIG. 9. The pump 108 when actuated will tend to actuate the cylinder82 first since it offers the least resistance to the flow of hydraulicfluid as compared to the plow cylinder unit 116 which is secured inconventional fashion to the plow frame 14. Accordingly, when the plow israised out of the ground the mulcher unit will always be raised first.When the mulcher unit is lowered and the length of the cylinder unit 82is fixed the arms 18 and cannot pivot in response to the hitting of anobstruction except for the fact that the inner end of the cylinder unit82 is connected to the coil spring 102 which permits the entire cylinderunit 82 to move to the left to the dash line position shown in FIG. 4.This dampening action serves as a positive safeguard against damagingthe mulcher or plow.

It is further seen that the stop bolt 48 in FIG. 4 prevents the arm 20from pivoting to an overcenter position which would render the cylinderunit 82 inoperative. Adjustment of this bolt may be made as desired tofurther limit the downward pivotal movement of the outer arm portion 28and thus further assist in adjustment of the ground working in thedirection of the mulcher unit. It is thus seen that the liftingmechanism occupies a minimum of space for the mulcher unit and ispositioned entirely on one arm and is substantially trouble free inoperation.

An alternate lifting arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 andlike numerals will be used to describe like parts. The outer arm portion28 includes an upstanding plate member 150 having a series of spacedapart holes 152 formed therein for selective engagement with a linkmember 154 connected to a cable 156 extending around a sheave 158mounted on a post 160 rigidly connected to a clamping bracket 162secured to the inner arm portion 26 adjacent the plow frame 14. As seenin FIG. 6 the cable end portion 156 extends rearwardly along the plowframe 14 and around a sheave 160 thence back to a sheave 162 carried onthe piston rod 164 of a lift cylinder unit 166 mounted on the plow frame14. The cable then extends toward the arm 18 and around a sheave 168where a cable portion 170 terminates in engagement with a link plate 172pivotally connected to an upstanding plate 174 mounted on the top sideof the outer arm portion 24. To further stabilize the sheaves 158, 160and 168, a longitudinally extending member 180 is provided which extendsalong the frame 14 of the plow and engages the upper ends of the sheavepins 182 and 184. It is appreciated that the sheaves 160 and 168 aremounted on the common sheave pin 182.

An upstanding plate element 190 is provided on the inner arm portion 26and is positioned to be placed in alignment with an opening 152 in theupstanding plate 150 to hold the mulcher unit in a raised position ifdesired as illustrated by the dash lines in FIG. 7. Thus when a pin isinserted through the plates 190 and 150, the unit is locked in an upposition and the load is removed from the cylinder unit 166.

The cylinder unit 166 in operation may correspond to the cylinder unit82 of FIG. 9. The mulcher unit will move to its lowered position bygravity while being raised to its up position by contraction of thecylinder unit 166. Thus it is seen that the cylinder unit 166 is easilymounted on the plow frame 14 through its connection to an upstandingpost 192 and thus a pin 194 is all that is required to remove thecylinder. The contraction of the cylinder by pumping fluid through theline 118 into the double-acting piston cylinder of the cylinder unit 166results in placing the cable portions 156 and in tension and pivotingthe outer arm portions 20 and 24 upwardly to raise the mulcher unit tothe dash line position of FIG. 7. The mulcher unit is lowered by simplyexpanding the cylinder 166 and allowing gravity to pivot the mulcherunit downwardly to the desired height. I

The mulcher unit of FIGS. 10 and 11 does not include any hydraulic powerunit and accordingly is manually operated with the assistance of atension coil spring 200 connected at one end through a bracket 202bolted to the inner end of the inner arm portion 26 by a bolt 40clamping the arm 20 to the plow frame 14. A length of chain 204 isprovided between the bracket 202 and the spring 200w give the connectionflexibility in length and permit it to bend as desired. An eye bolt 206is provided on the outer end of the spring 200 and is connected tothe-sleeve 62 through a bracket 208. This connection is below thehorizontal plane of the arm 20.

The outer arm portion 28 includes the upstanding plate 150 and the innerarm portion 26 includes an upstanding element which may be lockedtogether by a link 210 as shown in the solid line position of FIG. 11 tomaintain the mulcher unit in a down position. To unlock the unit a pin212 need only be removed and the link 210 pivoted back out of the way tothe dash line'position. The unit is then pivoted upwardly such that anopening 152 in the plate 150 is in alignment with the opening in theupstanding plate 190 and the unit is then locked in an up position bythe pin 212.

It is seen that the spring 200 is positioned in such a manner that itserves to hold the outer arm portion 28 in a downwardly pivoted positionand once the mulcher unit is raised to an overcenter position the spring200 tends to pull it upwardly to the dash line raised position of FIG.11. Thus the spring 200 to serves to hold the unit down as well as tohold it up by the overcenter operation thereof.

The location of the pivotal axis of the outer arm portion 28 inwardly ofthe mulcher frame 34 is important for holding the mulcher units 70 inengagement with the ground. This extended lever arm for pivotal movementtends to dampen and minimize any tendency for the mulcher unit to raiseout of the ground upon hitting obstructions or the like.

Thus it is seen that the mulcher unit of this invention may be operatedbetween raised and lowered positions in several different ways includingmounting a cylinder unit directly on one of the arms as shown in FIGS.1.5 or using a cable arrangement and mounting the lift cylinder on theplow frame as shown in FIGS. 6-7. Alternatively, the unit may beoperated manually by the assistance of a spring as shown in FIGS. 10 and11 wherein the spring tends to help raise the mulcher and also help tomaintain it in a ground-working lowered position.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my plowmulcher without departing from the real spirit and purpose of myinvention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination:

a plow unit having an elongated straight frame member disposed at anangle other than a right angle with respect to the normal direction oftravel of said plow unit doing the plowing operation;

a plurality of plow elements secured to'said elongated frame member andadapted to normally throw soil outwardly in a transverse direction withrespect to said elongated frame member during the plowing operation;

a pair of elongated mulcher support arms rigidly connected to saidelongated frame member and extending substantially perpendicularly andtransversely outwardly therefrom;

said pair of mulcher support arms including hinged-together portions forthe outer portion to be pivoted between lowered and raised positions;

an elongated beam connected to the outer portions of said pair ofsupport arms;

, r said beam being substantially parallel to said elongated framemember; i p ground Workingteeth units connected to said elongatedbeam',and comprising a vertical support means, a substantially'horizontal member secured to the lower end of said support means, teeth elementson said horizontal member, and the longitudinal axes of said teethmembers being substantially perpendicular to the normaldirection oftravel of said plow unit during the plowingoperation; said teeth unitsbeing positioned closely adjacent the outward edgesof said plow elementstowork the soil as it is being moved outwardly by said plow elements;and

control means operatively connected between the frame member and saidouter portionfor pivoting the hinged together portions of said mulchersupport arms.-

' 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said beam is connected to saidouter portions of i said support arms by posts extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said outer portions and said elongated mulcher frame.1

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said posts are selectivelyadjustable transversely and longitudinally of said outer portions ofsaid support arms.

4. The structure of claim3 wherein said ground working teeth units areselectively adjustable longitudinally of the elongatedbeam. i 3 1 5. Thestructure of claim 4 wherein said elongated beam'is adjustablelongitudinally of said posts for providing the desired angularrelationship of said elongated frame member. relative to the ground.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein a spring in tension extends betweensaid frame rnemberand one of said posts, said spring being positionedfor overcenter operation to hold said outer arm portion in a loweredposition and at other times hold it in a raised position. a

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein cooperating means ar provided onsaid arm portions for locking said outer portion in said raised andlowered positions,

,8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said control means is a hydrauliccylinder means connected between said frame member and one of saidsupport arms.

a movement to an overcenter arm portions and a third cable sheave beingpositioned adjacent said sheave on one of said inner arm portions andremotely of said hydraulic cylinder; saidcable extending from one endanchored to said outer arm portion connected to said one inner armportion over said sheave on said one inner arm portion, over a sheave onthe outer end of the piston rod of said hydraulic cylinder, around thethird sheave and finally over said sheave on the other inner arm portionto the point it is anchored on said other outer arm portion.

1.1. The structure of claim 10 wherein each of said sheaves on saidinner arm portions are mountedon riser posts above the inner armportions.

12. The structure of claim 8 wherein said hydraulic means includes ahydraulic cylinder-anchored at one end to said elongated plow frame andat the other end to the outer arm portion of one of said arms wherebyexpansion of said cylinder will lower said outer ann portion andcontraction of said cylinder will raise said outer arm portion.

13. The structure of claim' 12 wherein said cylinder includes springmeans in itsconnections at one of its ends to permit movement of saidcylinder independently of contraction and expansion of said cylinderwhereby said outer arm portion may be yieldably held in a loweredposition, and means on said frame member to retain and connect saidspring to said cylinder.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein said spring means is Connectedbetween the inner end of said cylinder and said elongated plow frame.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said spring means includes aslidable bracket connected to the inner end of said cylinder andengaging one end of a spring element and a stop element on said bracketprovided for engagement with the op- .-posite end of said springelement.

9. The structure of claim'8 wherein said hydraulic cylinder meansincludes a hydraulic cylinder connected to a cable'havr ing its oppositeends anchored on the outer portions of said arms for said outer portionsof the arms to be raised and lowered as said cylinder is contracted andexpanded respectively. i i

10. The structure of claim 9 wherein said hydraulic cylinder is arrangedin parallel relationship to the longitudinal frame member, cable sheavesbeing positioned on each of said inner 16. Thestructure of claim 15wherein said spring means includes a bolt member slidably extendingthrough said stop element and along the length of said spring element toengagement with said slidable bracket.

17. The structure of claim 13 wherein a stop means is provided betweensaid inner and outer arm portions to limit downward pivotal movement ofsaid outer arm portion against position relative to the position andaction of said cylinder.

18. The structure of claim 13 wherein said hydraulic means includes asecond cylinder connectedto said frame member for raising and loweringsaid plow unit and said cylinders are connected to a common power sourcesuch that said beam connected to said outer arm portion will-be operatedfirst in

1. In combination: a plow unit having an elongated straight frame memberdisposed at an angle other than a right angle with respect to the normaldirection of travel of said plow unit doing the plowing operation; aplurality of plow elements secured to said elongated frame member andadapted to normally throw soil outwardly in a transverse direction withrespect to said elongated frame member during the plowing operation; apair of elongated mulcher support arms rigidly connected to saidelongated frame member and extending substantially perpendicularly andtransversely outwardly therefrom; said pair of mulcher support armsincluding hinged-together portions for the outer portion to be pivotedbetween lowered and raised positions; an elongated beam connected to theouter portions of said pair of support arms; said beam beingsubstantially parallel to said elongated frame member; ground workingteeth units connected to said elongated beam, and comprising a verticalsupport means, a substantially horizontal member secured to the lowerend of said support means, teeth elements on said horizontal member, andthe longitudinal axes of said teeth members being substantiallyperpendicular to the normal direction of travel of said plow unit duringthe plowing operation; said teeth units being positioned closelyadjacent the outward edges of said plow elements to work the soil as itis being moved outwardly by said plow elements; and control meansoperatively connected between the frame member and said outer portionfor pivoting the hinged together portions of said mulcher support arms.2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said beam is connected to said outerportions of said support arms by posts extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said outer portions and said elongated mulcher frame.3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said posts are selectivelyadjustable transversely and longitudinally of said outer portions ofsaid support arms.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said groundworking teeth units are selectively adjustable longitudinally of theelongated beam.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said elongated beamis adjustable longitudinally of said posts for providing the desiredangular relationship of said elongated frame member relative to theground.
 6. The structure of claim 1 wherein a spring in tension extendsbetween said frame member and one of said posts, said spring beingpositioned for overcenter operation to hold said outer arm portion in alowered position and at other times hold it in a raised position.
 7. Thestructure of claim 1 wherein cooperating means are provided on said armportions for locking said outer portion in said raised and loweredpositions.
 8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said control means is ahydraulic cylinder means connected between said frame member and one ofsaid support arms.
 9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said hydrauliccylinder means includes a hydraulic cylinder connected to a cable havingits opposite ends anchored on the outer portions of said arms for saidouter portions of the arms to be raised and lowered as said cylinder iscontracted and expanded respectively.
 10. The structure of claim 9wherein said hydraulic cylinder is arranged in parallel relationship tothe longitudinal frame member, cable sheaves being positioned on each ofsaid inner arm portions and a third cable sheave being positionedadjacent said sheave on one of said inner arm portions and remotely ofsaid hydraulic cylinder, said cable extending from one end anchored tosaid outer arm portion connected to said one inner arm portion over saidsheave on said one inner arm portion, over a sheave on the outer end ofthe piston rod of said hydraulic cylinder, around the third sheave andfinally over said sheave on the other inner arm portion to the point itis anchored on said other outer arm portion.
 11. The structure of claim10 wherein each of said sheaves on said inner arm portions are mountedon riser posts above the inner arm portions.
 12. The structure of claim8 wherein said hydraulic means includes a hydraulic cylinder anchored atone end to said elongated plow frame and at the other end to the outerarm portion of one of said arms whereby expansion of said cylinder willlower said outer arm portion and contraction of said cylinder will raisesaid outer arm portion.
 13. The structure of claim 12 wherein saidcylinder includes spring means in its connections at one of its ends topermit movement of said cylinder independently of contraction andexpansion of said cylinder whereby said outer arm portion may beyieldably held in a lowered position, and means on said frame member toretain and connect said spring to said cylinder.
 14. The structure ofclaim 13 wherein said spring means is connected between the inner end ofsaid cylinder and said elongated plow frame.
 15. The structure of claim14 wherein said spring means includes a slidable bracket connected tothe inner end of said cylinder and engaging one end of a spring elementand a stop element on said bracket provided for engagement with theopposite end of said spring element.
 16. The structure of claim 15wherein said spring means includes a bolt member slidably extendingthrough said stop element and along the length of said spring element toengagement with said slidable bracket.
 17. The structure of claim 13wherein a stop means is provided between said inner and outer armportions to limit downward pivotal movement of said outer arm portionagainst movement to an overcenter position relative to the position andaction of said cylinder.
 18. The structure of claim 13 wherein saidhydraulic means includes a second cylinder connected to said framemember for raising and lowering said plow unit and said cylinders areconnected to a common power source such that said beam connected to saidouter arm portion will be operated first in raising and loweringoperations for reason of its operative load requirements for operationbeing lower than said plow.